News / National
War Veterans cannot be separated from Zanu-PF says Dube
18 Jun 2016 at 08:13hrs | Views
Former freedom fighters are loyal to Zanu-PF and cannot be separated from the party, Minister of Welfare Services for War Veterans, War Collaborators, Ex-Political Detainees and Restrictees Tshinga Dube said yesterday.
Speaking during the official opening of Marange/Zimunya district office for war veterans, Dube said former freedom fighters were supposed to be wary of forces bent on sowing seeds of division amongst their rank and file.
"Zanu-PF is invincible, and I am happy to say that war veterans are very loyal to the party and cannot be separated from the party. We must continue to strengthen that unity. We are sometimes swayed by the Press, which at times has a different agenda from ours," he said.
Dube said the war veterans were supposed to be sympathetic to vulnerable people in the country. He said President Mugabe cared a lot about the welfare of war veterans, ex-political detainees and restrictees. Dube said the President made the administration of war veterans' welfare easier by creating a stand-alone ministry.
The minister said the President listened to all challenges war veterans were facing including mining claims and land, among others. "For all our vulnerable groups, sometimes some people complain that war veterans are making too many demands, but from my own experience, I do not think these are war veterans who want to drive some 4x4s and eat special food.
"All they want is to afford a basic life with their children. All they cry out for is just sadza nemuriwo and be able to buy clothes for their families and hope to be treated when they fall sick.
"We must remember that they spent their young ages fighting in the bush against the evil (Ian) Smith regime. Some of them left home when they were young and came back when they were old men having acquired various diseases from various insects in the bush, and some of the diseases were caused by unbalanced diet and unclean water."
He urged the war veterans to help ex-detainees who were not vetted to go to district offices for registration as soon as possible.
"As for mujibhas and chimbwidos, you will remember that you were not catered for in the old Constitution. But the new Constitution Amendment No. 20 of 2013 says that you are part of the former liberation forces. There are some comrades who were working in the offices of liberation movements in Lusaka and Maputo," he said.
These were left out when the vetting of war veterans was done.
Minister of Provincial Affairs for Manicaland Province Mandi Chimene, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe; Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere; and senior Government officials attended the official opening of the offices.
Speaking during the official opening of Marange/Zimunya district office for war veterans, Dube said former freedom fighters were supposed to be wary of forces bent on sowing seeds of division amongst their rank and file.
"Zanu-PF is invincible, and I am happy to say that war veterans are very loyal to the party and cannot be separated from the party. We must continue to strengthen that unity. We are sometimes swayed by the Press, which at times has a different agenda from ours," he said.
Dube said the war veterans were supposed to be sympathetic to vulnerable people in the country. He said President Mugabe cared a lot about the welfare of war veterans, ex-political detainees and restrictees. Dube said the President made the administration of war veterans' welfare easier by creating a stand-alone ministry.
The minister said the President listened to all challenges war veterans were facing including mining claims and land, among others. "For all our vulnerable groups, sometimes some people complain that war veterans are making too many demands, but from my own experience, I do not think these are war veterans who want to drive some 4x4s and eat special food.
"We must remember that they spent their young ages fighting in the bush against the evil (Ian) Smith regime. Some of them left home when they were young and came back when they were old men having acquired various diseases from various insects in the bush, and some of the diseases were caused by unbalanced diet and unclean water."
He urged the war veterans to help ex-detainees who were not vetted to go to district offices for registration as soon as possible.
"As for mujibhas and chimbwidos, you will remember that you were not catered for in the old Constitution. But the new Constitution Amendment No. 20 of 2013 says that you are part of the former liberation forces. There are some comrades who were working in the offices of liberation movements in Lusaka and Maputo," he said.
These were left out when the vetting of war veterans was done.
Minister of Provincial Affairs for Manicaland Province Mandi Chimene, Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Christopher Mushohwe; Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere; and senior Government officials attended the official opening of the offices.
Source - Herald
